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An Examination of Consumer Willingness to Pay for Local Products

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2016

Aaron Adalja ,
James Hanson ,
Charles Towe  and
Elina Tselepidakis
Aaron Adalja*
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at University of Maryland
James Hanson
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at University of Maryland
Charles Towe
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at University of Connecticut
Elina Tselepidakis
Affiliation:
U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service
*
Correspondence: Aaron Adalja ▪ Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics ▪ University of Maryland ▪ 2200 Symons Hall ▪ College ParkMD 20742 ▪ Phone 216.374.3136 ▪ Emailaadalja@umd.edu
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Abstract

We use data from hypothetical and nonhypothetical choice-based conjoint analysis to estimate willingness to pay for local food products. The survey was administered to three groups: consumers from a buying club with experience with local and grass-fed production markets, a random sample of Maryland residents, and shoppers at a nonspecialty Maryland supermarket. We find that random-sample and supermarket shoppers are willing to pay a premium for local products but view local and grass-fed production as substitutes. Conversely, buying-club members are less willing to pay for local production than the other groups but do not conflate local and grass-fed production.

Keywords

beefconjoint analysisfield experimentgrass-fedlocalwillingness to pay
Type
Research Article
Information
Agricultural and Resource Economics Review , Volume 44 , Issue 3 , December 2015 , pp. 253 - 274
Copyright
Copyright © 2015 Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association 

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